Agency to inquire about municipalities’ interests in assessing services
By MICHAEL ANICH, The Leader-HeraldJOHNSTOWN - The Fulton County Real Property Tax Services Agency was given permission by a county legislative panel Thursday to approach the county's municipalities to see if they are interested in contracting with the county for assessing services.
Agency Director Frank Parker told the Board of Supervisors' Finance Committee that he wants to meet voluntarily with the cities and towns to see if they need contractual help from the county. He said this effort does not constitute countywide assessing, which Fulton County voters soundly rejected in 1996 and 2005.
"We all know we have tried to elevate the efficiency rate of assessing in Fulton County," Parker said. "We haven't been successful."
He said he can attend town board or common council meetings to see if there's interest in contracting with the county for assessing services.
Parker said some town officials have asked him whether "alternate" methods of assessing are available. He mentioned two of them - contracting with the county and Consolidated Assessment Plans, which involve two or more municipalities combining their assessing programs.
Some of the options would require the county Real Property Tax Services Agency to restructure or offer new services, Parker said.
He said CAPS might be difficult to do in Fulton County because of the varying state equalization rates. Parker said the state Office or Real Property Services says two municipalities with the same equalization rates are required for CAPS and that's not the case in Fulton County.
"Contracting is a different story," Parker said.
He said if one town decides to contract with the county, then other municipalities may want to follow suit, which may ultimately increase the efficiency and accuracy of property assessments in the county.
If there is contractual interest, Parker said he may have to hire an assessor to work with the municipalities.
County Administrative Officer Jon R. Stead told the committee that some of the towns are interested in contracting, and he wanted supervisors to be aware of what informational sessions Parker may be able to offer before he makes out-of-office visits.
Bleecker Supervisor David Howard noted contracting would be voluntary and it amounts to municipalities saying they need help. He said he doesn't want to see county assessing services "forced" on the towns.
"I don't see any problem with this," Howard said.
Gloversville 3rd Ward Supervisor Michael F. Gendron said the county should do outreach to all the municipalities, including the cities.
Stead said Parker can let municipalities know when he's available.
"Some aren't going to be interested and some have already inquired about how things work," Stead said.
Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at johnstown@leaderherald.com
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TiredOfTax
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07-05-09 7:26 PM
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Acording to a new york times article: Homeowners across the country are challenging their property tax bills in droves as the value of their homes drop, threatening local governments with another big drain on their budgets.
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TiredOfTax
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07-05-09 9:16 AM
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It is always so much easier to get the property taxpayer to pay more than to find a way to be more efficient in your processes. Look for ways to save money and for OTHER ways to get your money, stop taxing the properties. TEA (T-axed E-nough A-lready)
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TiredOfTax
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07-05-09 9:11 AM
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I am very interested in a lower assessment, we were re-assessed when market value was inflated and now it is back to reality. I do understand that I can only be taxed a certain percentage of my properties value but why should my value be cosmetically inflated so I can be grossly overtaxed? I am sure that you will find most residents will sell you their properties at the assessed amounts. Take your assessors and go, this is simply another attempt to get what you want by slippery legal maneuvering. You have asked twice, we said no twice, so what part of no do you not understand?
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Adirondackal
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07-05-09 5:58 AM
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We can trust Frank Parker. What we can't trust is the yahoos in Albany who are on a mission to tax upstate into non-existance.
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Hangthemhigh49
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07-04-09 11:54 PM
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what a waste of time and money. the county would not be able to provide local services from johnstown. who is doing this backdoor approach to county wide assessing?
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Patriot1
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07-04-09 11:28 AM
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Municipalities should be most careful, because this practice could constitute the first step to county-wide assessing.
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